1. Towards the Development of Health Promotion Competencies Laying the Foundation for Discipline-Specific Competency Development Marco Ghassemi, MSc Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention Division Region of Peel, Public Health Department Canadian Public Health Association 2008 Annual Conference Halifax, Nova Scotia June 1-4, 2008 supported by:

2. www.hpoph.org Session Goals 1. To understand Health Promotion Ontario’s competency development experience:  Research  Definition  Why competencies  Consultation process 2. To describe the “Discussion Draft” Competencies for Health Promoters 3. Key Learnings and Next Steps

3. www.hpoph.org 2003 2005 2006 Environmental Scan – health promoters in Canada: Roles, networks Environmental Scan – health promoters in Canada: Roles, networks Health Promotion Ontario’s Strategic Plan 2006 2007 “Discussion Draft” Competencies “Discussion Draft” Competencies Literature Review – International health promotion competency Sets Discussion Paper - health promotion and professional skills Steps in Development of Discipline-Specific Competencies for Health Promoters All of the above documents can be found at:

4. www.hpoph.org What are Discipline Competencies?  Include the core competencies and the particular technical competencies that define a particular discipline (Moloughney, 2004)  Further detail the depth and breadth of core and technical competencies to define a particular discipline (Emerson, 2005)  Technical competencies are those not common to all public health practitioners, but are needed to fulfill public health core functions and programs (Moloughney, 2004)

5. www.hpoph.org Enveloping Elements Understand and validate roles Recognition of knowledge, skills and abilities Articulate specialized skills for certification Support human resource processes Strengthen professional practice Support regulation and standards of practice Health Promoter Competencies Why Identify Discipline-Specific Competencies? Internal and external to public health including the general public Continuing professional development

6. www.hpoph.org Why Health Promotion Competencies? Why now?  Public health renewal – growing interest in discipline-specific competencies  Pan-Canadian Core Competencies for Public Health initiative  Concern about the potential marginalization of health promotion within the broader public health sector

7. www.hpoph.org Health Promoter Competencies Health Promoter Competencies To inform curriculum development of continuing education for health promoters To inform curriculum development of continuing education for health promoters To increase understanding of the range of knowledge and skills required by health promoters to effectively plan, deliver and evaluate health promotion initiatives To increase understanding of the range of knowledge and skills required by health promoters to effectively plan, deliver and evaluate health promotion initiatives To inform and structure the content of health promotion training programs To inform and structure the content of health promotion training programs To assist in the development of competency-based job descriptions for HP To assist in the development of competency-based job descriptions for HP To inform the development of health promotion training needs and assessment tools To inform the development of health promotion training needs and assessment tools Potential Uses of Health Promotion Competencies

8. www.hpoph.org Competency Consultation  March/07 National Teleconference  May 11/07 Health Promotion Ontario Conference  June 11-15/07, 19 th World Conference on Health Promotion and Health Education  Ongoing meetings, survey, web input, etc.

9. www.hpoph.org 1. Demonstrate knowledge necessary for conducting health promotion that includes: i. Applying a determinants of health framework to the analysis of health issues. ii. Applying theory to health promotion planning and implementation iii. Applying health promotion principles in the context of the roles and responsibilities of public health organizations iv. Describing the range of interventions available to address public health issues “Discussion Draft” Health Promotion Competencies

10. www.hpoph.org 2. Conduct a community needs/situational assessment for a specific issue that includes: i. Identifying behavioural, social, environmental and organizational factors that promote or compromise health ii. Identifying relevant and appropriate data and information sources iii. Identifying community assets and resources iv. Partner with communities to validate collected quantitative and qualitative data v. Integrating information from available sources to identify priorities for action “Discussion Draft” Health Promotion Competencies

11. www.hpoph.org 3. Plan appropriate health promotion programs that includes: i. Identifying, retrieving and critically appraising the relevant literature ii. Conducting an environmental scan of best practices iii. Developing a component plan to implement programs including goals, objectives and implementation steps iv. Developing a program budget v. Monitoring and evaluating implementation of interventions “Discussion Draft” Health Promotion Competencies

12. www.hpoph.org “Discussion Draft” Health Promotion Competencies 4. Contribute to policy development that includes: i. Describing the health, economic, administrative, legal, social and political implications of policy options ii. Providing strategic policy advice on health promotion issues iii. Writing clear and concise policy statements for complex issues.

13. www.hpoph.org 5. Facilitate community mobilization and build community capacity around shared health priorities that includes: i. Engaging in a dialogue with communities based on trust and mutual respect ii. Identifying and strengthening local community capacities to take action on health issues iii. Advocating for and with individuals and communities that will improve their health and well-being “Discussion Draft” Health Promotion Competencies

14. www.hpoph.org 6. Engage in partnership and collaboration that includes: i. Establishing and maintaining linkages with community leaders and other key health promotion stakeholders (e.g., schools, businesses, churches, community associations, labour unions, etc.) ii. Utilizing leadership, team building, negotiation and conflict resolution skills to build community partnerships iii. Building coalitions and stimulating intersectoral collaboration on health issues “Discussion Draft” Health Promotion Competencies

15. www.hpoph.org 7. Communicate effectively with community members and other professionals that includes: i. Providing health status, demographic, statistical, programmatic, and scientific information tailored to professional and lay audiences ii. Applying social marketing and other communication principles to the development, implementation and evaluation of health communication campaigns iii. Using the media, advanced technologies, and community networks to receive and communicate information iv. Interacting with, and adapting policies and programming that respond to the diversity in population characteristics “Discussion Draft” Health Promotion Competencies

16. www.hpoph.org 8. Organize, implement and manage health promotion interventions that includes: i. Training and coordinating program volunteers ii. Describing scope of work in the context of organization’s mission and functions iii. Contributing to team and organizational learning “Discussion Draft” Health Promotion Competencies

17. www.hpoph.org On-Line Questionnaire  Launched at HPO conference – initial response period from May 11-May 31, 2007  Open to all health promotion practitioners in Canada  96 questions  Response Rate, N = 91  Some useful data, further analysis is required  May be refined and re-opened for future consultations

18. www.hpoph.org Results: Demographics – job title N = 91

19. www.hpoph.org Results: Demographics – place of employment N = 91 Note: 22 participants identified Ontario as province of employment (n = 22)

20. www.hpoph.org Results (1 - 4): Role Reflection & Compliance N = 91 Note: HPC, health promoter competencies

21. www.hpoph.org Results (5 – 8): Role Reflection & Compliance Note: HPC, health promoter competencies N = 91

22. www.hpoph.org Key Learnings  Competencies are advisory & voluntary  Competencies reflect the range of health promotion practice  Health promotion is process-oriented. Competencies help to clarify the role and strengthen the practice & programming Generalizable to reflect HP Practice in Canada Descriptive enough for strengthening and guiding practice

23. www.hpoph.org Questions for Discussion 1. Do the proposed competencies reflect your experience with health promotion practice and your day-to-day role as health promoters? 2. What, if anything, is missing from the competencies? 3. Do you have any suggestions for revising the competencies? 4. How do you see yourself using the health promotion competencies? Visit the HPO Website at:

24. www.hpoph.org Ongoing Fall 2008 2008 Ongoing Collate and analyze feedback results Explore feasibility of a national public health promotion working group Validate the draft from a Pan-Canadian Perspective Next Steps …

25. www.hpoph.org Questions? Kevin Churchill  kevin.churchill@county-lambton.on.cakevin.churchill@county-lambton.on.ca Marco Ghassemi  marco.ghassemi@peelregion.camarco.ghassemi@peelregion.ca